Resources

During your transition from the protection of a nursing program and its instructors to independent nursing practice you may be faced with self doubt. Some licensees still remember driving to their first day of orientation as a new graduate thinking "Oh my gosh, they are going to think I know something!" This thought probably enters the minds of many new graduates as they embark on the work world and the responsibility of becoming a licensed nurse begins to become reality. (Kentucky Board of Nursing, 2006)

The growth of knowledge and the complexity of the nursing profession make it impossible for a new nurse to graduate from school with all the skills and abilities necessary to function independently in this strange new world. Nurse Managers frequently report that many new graduates lack sufficient practical clinical skills to handle the workload and complexity in today's healthcare settings. Should we expect the novice nurse to have the critical thinking and problem solving skills that a seasoned professional develops over the course of a lifetime? The question then becomes how do we introduce new graduates into the practice world so that they are nurtured and able to become competent, capable practitioners? (Kentucky Board of Nursing, 2006)

Current standards for initial licensure include graduation from an approved school of nursing, successful results on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX), and the ability to read with comprehension, understandably speak, and write the English language. Graduation from an approved program of nursing presumes that an applicant for initial licensure demonstrates sufficient competency to deliver safe and effective care. It is recognized that competency standards for initial entry into practice evolve as society changes. To this end, a licensing body is dependent upon the faculty of the prelicensure program of nursing to foster program outcomes reflective of current practice demands, to assure that the competency level of program graduates supports safe and effective nursing care, and to reinforce the need for continued learning throughout a nursing career. (Kentucky Board of Nursing, 2006)

Frequently asked questions when you enter practice pertain to the scope of nursing practice. These include: